Explosive, athletic, visceral physical theatre ruined by a tragic lack of understanding! Twice listed as “Best of the Fest”, and winning Critics Choice “Best Show” at Orlando Fringe Festival. PUSH Physical Theatre creates a masculinity satire by two well-meaning fools. They argue, dance and desperately cling to the status-quo.
“Generic Male” begins a serious journey with a comically absurd premise: Men apologizing for the masculinity show you’re about to see. Hilarious hijinks ensue as they examine the thoughts and assumptions that go unquestioned until they are spoken aloud. It’s about fathers and sons, war and death, and… James Bond. We hope it will empower people to speak up and begin to have the conversation that our characters can’t quite seem to engage in.
Are we watching a couple of petty idiots or is this the most insightful piece of theatre of the 21st century? …No
2 Daly Avenue. Arts Court Theatre is located inside Arts Court on Daly Avenue. The accessible entrance is located at 10 Daly Ave., just east of the main entrance. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor, and turn left. When possible, please try to arrive a few minutes early in case the elevator is in use upon arrival.
There is an accessible washroom on 3rd floor. Turn right after exiting the elevator. Some front row seating is removable in Arts Court Theatre for patrons using wheelchairs upon request.
6 Reviews
PUSH Physical Theatre
“the type of inventive, thought-provoking, relevant art the Fringe was made for.”
“…I can pretty much guarantee you’ve never seen an acrobatic clowning show as cleverly complex as Generic Male. In this virtuoso showcase of both verbal and physical gymnastics, Jones and his overbearing stage manager (Darren Stevenson) harass hapless audience members into helping them perform a slickly executed series of physical comedy skits skewering stereotypes of masculinity. Kicking off with a synchronized dance number in possessed sweatpants and an absurdly overblown argument over stolen seating, the show only gets more surreal from there. This pair doesn’t merely break through the fourth wall; they tear it down entirely and dance merrily on the rubble…
… a moving military mime solo, followed by a wondrous weight-balancing duet highlighting the balletic beauty of male connection that becomes the show’s enduring image. Generic Male is like Cirque du Soleil meets Samuel Beckett with a dash of Monty Python, a combination that I enthusiastically endorse for all audiences, whether or not you support the premise that the generic white male patriarchy needs to perish…”
By Seth Kubersky
Orlando Weekly
May 25, 2022 – Orlando Fringe Festival
And we have our topper. Worth the watch just for an evolving human chair and balancing monologue routine, this physically sumptuous play brings together a myriad of theatrical wonder in a tight, cohesive whole. Smartly written, cleverly sequenced, gobsmackingly performed, Generic Male asks tough gender questions, which run the gamut of funny to life and death. Cleverly poking holes in toxic masculinity whilst flexing physical masculinity is genius. Oh and the unforgetable slow motion soldier scene is simply astounding. Rousing standing ovation well deserved.
– hipCRANK
“the type of inventive, thought-provoking, relevant art the Fringe was made for.”
“Highly recommended”
By Matthew J. Palm
Orlando Sentinel
May 19, 2022
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/arts-and-theater/os-et-orlando-fringe-festival-reviews-may22trav-20220519-5nlitrsjonbbhb5itt2fxc7dum-story.html
“The Generic Male has been shattered. To a standing ovation.”
By Jeff Spevak
City Magazine
September 24, 2021 – Rochester Fringe Festival
https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/push-physical-theatre-extinguishes-the-generic-male/Content?oid=13704876
“…I can pretty much guarantee you’ve never seen an acrobatic clowning show as cleverly complex as Generic Male. In this virtuoso showcase of both verbal and physical gymnastics, Jones and his overbearing stage manager (Darren Stevenson) harass hapless audience members into helping them perform a slickly executed series of physical comedy skits skewering stereotypes of masculinity. Kicking off with a synchronized dance number in possessed sweatpants and an absurdly overblown argument over stolen seating, the show only gets more surreal from there. This pair doesn’t merely break through the fourth wall; they tear it down entirely and dance merrily on the rubble…
… a moving military mime solo, followed by a wondrous weight-balancing duet highlighting the balletic beauty of male connection that becomes the show’s enduring image. Generic Male is like Cirque du Soleil meets Samuel Beckett with a dash of Monty Python, a combination that I enthusiastically endorse for all audiences, whether or not you support the premise that the generic white male patriarchy needs to perish…”
By Seth Kubersky
Orlando Weekly
May 25, 2022 – Orlando Fringe Festival
https://www.orlandoweekly.com/arts/our-top-reviews-from-the-2022-orlando-international-fringe-theatre-festival-31667044
All in a Day with Alan Neal – June 15, 2022 – Ottawa Fringe Festival
Talk to Darren Stevenson and Ashley Jones of Push Physical Theatre about “Generic Male: Just What We Need, Another Show About Men”.
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-92-all-in-a-day/clip/15919363-generic-male-just-what-we-need-another-show
https://apt613.ca/fringe-review-generic-male-just-what-we-need-another-show-about-men/
And we have our topper. Worth the watch just for an evolving human chair and balancing monologue routine, this physically sumptuous play brings together a myriad of theatrical wonder in a tight, cohesive whole. Smartly written, cleverly sequenced, gobsmackingly performed, Generic Male asks tough gender questions, which run the gamut of funny to life and death. Cleverly poking holes in toxic masculinity whilst flexing physical masculinity is genius. Oh and the unforgetable slow motion soldier scene is simply astounding. Rousing standing ovation well deserved.
– hipCRANK